Game scorer



Jan. 25, 1938. R PAUL 2,106,466

GAME SCORER Fil'ed Sept. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l iYVE/YTOR m Q QW Jan.25, 1938. R. H. PAUL 2,106,466

GAME SCORER' Filed Sept. 15. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 25, 1938.

R. H. PAUL GAME SCORER Filed Sept. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 the game ofbridge.

Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME SCORER RalphHerbert Paul, West Kensington, London, England Application September 15,1934, Serial No. 744,105 In Great Britain September 2-1, 1933 2 Claims.

ing a slot registering with the holes on each disc and a windowregistering with the numbers on each disc, so that when one of the discsis moved forward a distance measured on the slot, a correspondingincrease is produced in the number shown in the window.

The invention has particular application to game scorers of the type inwhich two distinct order of the points are scored, and more than onegame constitutes winning, such as for instance in In such games, pointsscored for tricks made, must be summed tWicefirst-, individually, sothat the players may know the total of points scored towards a game andalso when each game has been completed, and secondly as a part of thegrand total score which also includes points scored for bonuses,penalties and honours.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a scorer which maybe made cheaply and easily assembled, and which is compact in size andis so thin that it may be conveniently carried in a pocket or in a ladyshandbag, and also to provide other necessary features and improvements,comprising improved mechanical devices for moving the hundreds andthousands grand total score disc by progression of the units and tensgrand total score disc and for automatically registering games won, whenzeroizing the trick points score disc at the end of a game.

According to the present invention, a game scorer of the particular typedescribed is provided in which there are at least three concentricrotatable discs mounted adjacent to one another and in the same plane,one for the hundreds and thousands grand total score, one for the unitsand tens grand total score and one for the trickpoints score commonlyreferred to as below the line and in which corresponding series of halfholes equidistantly spaced are provided in the adjacent edges of the twolast mentioned discs together with separate but corresponding series ofholes in the grand total scoring discs and a separate but correspondingseries of holes in the trick points scoring disc.

By means of the series of half holes the trick points disc and the minorgrand total disc may be rotated together clockwise for registering trickscores and registering such trick scores in the grand total score byinserting a stylus or the like in one of the holes constituted by two ofthe said half holes in each disc thereby interlocking them.Alternatively the minor grand total scoring disc may be rotated alone,for registering bonuses, penalties and honours, by inserting the. stylusin the separate series of holes in that disc and-progrossing it. Thetrick points scoring disc may be reversed to bring that score to zero atthe end of a game by inserting a stylus in the separate series of holesin that disc and moving it anticlockwise. The major grand total scoringdisc may be rotated independently, for registering bonuses, penalties,and honours by inserting the stylus in the series of holes in that discand progressing it.

Further features of the invention will appear hereafter in the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment in which,

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the game scorer set in the zero position,

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but with the cover removed,

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away of the base showingthe ridges on which the concentric discs are guided and thecorresponding series of stylus recesses.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a double'scorer in the half openposition for showing both sides scores, the two scorers being hingedtogether, and

Figure 5 shows a detail view of the progressing pawl in the positionjust before it comes into engagement with a tooth on the adjacent discring (the minor grand total score at 90).

Figure 6 shows a detail view of the same parts shown in Figure 5 withthe progressing pawl in engagement with the toothed ring and,

Figure '7 shows. a detail view of the same part shown in Figures 5 and 6with the progressing pawl in the neutral position.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there arethree scoring discs of ring shaped form illustrated. These comprise aninner ring-shaped disc I for registering trick scores (i. e. below theline score). The inner edge of this ring disc fits and bears on thecircular ridge 2 provided about the centre of the base 3, the discthereby being able to rotate. A series of equidistantly spaced halfholes 8 are arranged on its outer edge corresponding with which are thescore indicating numbers A, printed adjacent to said half holes. Acircular series of holes 5 is provided within these scoring numbers 4correspending with the series of half holes and provided for resettingthe disc I to zero at the end of a game, and for the purpose ofpreventing unrequired movement of the disc by coacting with the holdingspring 40.

Secondly there is the. middle ring-shaped disc 6, which registers theunits and tens digits of the grand total score. The outer edge of thisdisc fits and bears and rotates on the divided ridge 1 on the base 3.The inner edge of the disc 6 is provided with a series of half holes811. which correspond with and are adjacent to the half holes 8 providedon the disc I. There is another separate series of holes 9 correspondingradially'with the series of half holes also in this Lil disc forprogressing the disc 6 independently and between this latter series andthe series of half holes, the score indicating numbers 10, forregistering the units and tens digits of the grand total score areembossed or printed on the disc. The score indicating numbers l consistof four sets or" the numbers 0 to 90 in multiples of 10, so that onecomplete revolution of the disc 6 is equivalent to an addition of 400 tothe grand total score.

'I'nirdly there is a ring-shaped disc H, for registering the hundredsand thousands digits of the grand total score. This ring is provided onits inner edge with a series of equidistantly spaced blunted teeth l2which fit and bear on divided ridge '5 and so enables it to rotate. Tlre is also provided a series of holes l3 for progressing the disc iiindependently, for the scoring of honours, penalties, and bonuses, and

corresponding series of score indicating numbers it, each of the holesand numbers radially corresponding with one of the teeth 12.

" carries a pawl H") for progressing The disc 0 the disc ii a distanceor" one tooth every time 1e former disc 6 is progressed a distance often holes (a score of 106) that is to say, for one complete revolutionof the disc 6; the disc H must be progressed four times. The pawl l liesin an opening it cut away from the outer edge e disc i3 (Figures 2, 5,6, and '7) and is provided with a round end i! which fits into a similaropening in the disc 6, thus enabling it to turn through a small angle. Aspring l8 fitted to the disc 8 between it and the pawl keeps the latterthrust outwards. In order to allow of the operation of the pawl, theridge 1 is divided into four parts, the openings between them beingequidistantl spaced one from another; these ridge members have bevellededges l9 and 20 as shown in Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7. In Figure 2 the pawlis shown in the. zero position with its catch well clear of the teeth [2owing to shoulder 2E being in contact with one of the edges [9 of thesaid ridge members. If the middle disc is now rotated through a distanceof nine holes equivalent to a score of 90, that is to say throughslightly less than a right angle, the pawl bears upon and passes alongthe ridge 'i' on its shoulder 2i until the latter is released by theedge 28, the nose of the pawl coming to rest on the said edge 26. By afurther rotation of the disc the nose released from this edge and thepawl under the action of the spring l8 will take up the position shownin dotted lines in Figure 2 and Figure 6, that is to say with its catchin a tooth of the disc H and the disc 6 will drag by means of the catch22 of the pawl l5, the disc it until it has moved through a distanceequal to one of its teeth l2, when the shoulder 2! of the pawl will comeinto contact with the edge ii of the ridge 7 and the catch 22 thus bedisconnected from the tooth.

The length of each opening in the ridge 1 between the edges is and 20 issuch that after the catch 22 of the pawl l5 has engaged one of the teethE? on the ring-shaped disc H and progressed the disc a distance of onetooth, the shoulder M of the pawl comes into contact with the edge it(Figure 2).

teeth 12 in the disc H are so positioned when idle, that the nose of thepawl I5 clears an edge 26 of the ridge '1 simultaneously with its catch22 engaging the full face of a tooth. In every instance when the unitsand tens grand total disc 6 is in an idle position, the

catch 22 of the pawl I5 is clear of the path of the teeth l2 in thehundreds and thousands grand total disc ll, allowing of an unimpededdirect movement of the latter.

It will be understood that every time the middle ring 6 progressesthrough a distance equal to a score of 100 the outer disc H isautomatically progressed by one tooth and so increases the score of thegrand total by 100.

As in the instrument shown on the drawings there are eighty teeth l2 inthe disc ll compared with forty holes in the series 9 of the units andtens grand total disc 6, and the distance also of the former from thecentre of the instrument is greater than that of the latter, thedistance between two radial lines drawn through two adjoining holes inthe series of holes 9, is longer at the teeth than at the holes,consequently the progression of the disc 6 a distance of one hole, givesthe pawl l5 suflicient travel to clear itself from its idle position onan edge 20 of the ridge 1 before engaging a tooth of the teeth l2 anddragging it forward a distance of one tooth, and then disengagingitself.

The shape of the nose end of the pawl 15 is such that in the event of anerror in scoring, the nose will mount an edge of the ridge I when thedisc 6 is reversed for rectification.

Within the trick points scoring disc I is a small disc 23 with bluntedteeth 24 around its edge. These teeth bear against the ridge 2 and soenable the disc to be rotated. Opposite these teeth the figures 0.1, 0.1are printed on the disc and within these figures there is a series ofholes 25 for the purpose of locating the disc by means of the holdingspring 40. This disc 23 is operated by the disc I in such a way thatwhen a game (100 below line) has been scored and the disc I is returnedto zero by means of a stylus in the hole 41 in the series of holes 5,the inner disc 23 is progressed anticlockwise a distance equal to one ofits teeth 24. This is done by the pawl 26 which is similar in design tothe pawl l5 and is similarly carried by said disc I. The pawl 26 lies ina cut away opening on the inside edge of the ring I, and is thrustinwards by a spring 21. There is an opening in the ridge 2 this latterat either end having bevelled edges 28 and 29. In Figure 2 the pawl 26is shown in its zero position. When the disc I is rotated in a scoringor clockwise direction so also is the pawl 25, and if sufficientlyrotated, the pawl will pass across the opening in the ridge 2, but itscatch will not rest against the teeth 24 until the shoulder 3| of thepawl has moved past the edge 28 of the ridge 2.

The pawl will now bear against the teeth 24 under the action of thespring 21 and will ride over them until the disc I has been progressed adistance of 90 degrees, that is a distance equivalent to a score of 100,from its zero position, when the catch 30 will engage the registeringtooth. This latter position is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Ifmore than 100 is scored in any one game the catch 30 will ride up overthe edge 29 and so become disengaged from the registering tooth of theteeth 24. However when the disc I is rotated backwards to zero at theend of a game, the catch 30 will again fall into its position as shownin dotted lines and will rotate with it the disc 23 the distance of onetooth when the catch 30 becomes disengaged through the shoulder 3|meeting the edge 28 of the ridge 2. Thus it will be understood thatevery time a score of 100 or more is registered by progression of thedisc I and this disc is returned to zero, the disc 23 will progressanticlockwise, and display through the window 39 of the cover the numberindicating the rubber position. If, however less than 100 is scored onthe disc I and it is zeroized, then there is no movement of the disc 23,as the catch 30 of the pawl is prevented from engaging a tooth of theteeth 24, by the shoulder 3| coming into contact with the edge 28.

The scoring discs are enclosed by a cover 32 provided with slots 33, 34,35, and 35a for operating by a stylus the half holes 8 and 8a, the holes9, the holes l3, and the holes 5 respectively. The cover is providedwith a series of windows 36, 31, 38 and 39. The hundreds and thousandsgrand total is shown in the window 36, and the units and tens grandtotal in the window 31 and the trick score (below line) in the window38; games are shown in the window 39, the figures one and zero beingalternately shown as games are registered. It is not necessary to showtwo games won, as the second game scored when one game is alreadyshowing in the window obviously constitutes a rubber (two games). Seriesof scoring figures are marked along the slots 33, 34, 35 to correspondwith the holes showing through those slots and if the stylus is put inthe hole opposite any desired number and the relevant disc rotatedclockwise until the stylus reaches the end of the slot, that number willbe added to the score showing in the relevant window.

Holding or locating springs are provided which engage the series ofholes in each disc and prevent it from unwanted movement.

These locating springs 40 may be comprised, as shown in Figure 1, offlaps 40 integral with the cover plate 32 and formed by V-shaped cuts inthe cover, the flaps having rounded ends with protuberances 4| therein,adapted to engage the holes in their relevant discs.

The base plate 3 is stamped from a single piece of metal, and theguiding ridges 2 and 1 and the corrugations or recesses 42 are formedtherein. The ridges 2 and l projecting from the floor of the base plate3 are adapted to form a support for the cover. The recesses 42 areprovided in the base plate beneath and coinciding with the series ofholes in the scoring discs allowing depth for the stylus to pass rightthrough the holes and grip these discs easily even though they are madeof very thin material. The base plate 3 has also an upturned lip 43(Fig. 3) at its edge and slots 44 are provided in this lip toaccommodate lugs 45 provided on the outer edge of the cover 32. Theengagement of the lugs in the slots 44 ensure that there is no relativemovement between the base and cover, which are firmly held together byan outer case 46 whose edge is rolled over the edge of the cover.

A certain hole in each series excepting in the series of half holes 8and 8a and the series 25 is marked in a distinguishing manner as shownat 41, so that when these holes are moved to the low number ends oftheir respective slots, the discs are automatically zeroized.

Two games scorers may be hinged together as shown in Figure 4 andadapted to be opened fiat or shut together. One of these scorers will beused for the markers own score whilst the other will be used for hisopponent's score, each being suitably marked for identificationpurposes. A table of trick scores, penalties, honours and the like maybe imprinted on the outer surface of the cover for reference purposes.

What I claim is:-

1. In a bridge scorer having a pair of rotatably mounted concentricdiscs, means for progressing one disc through a small angle consequentto rotation in one direction of an adjacent disc past a given position,comprising, a base with a raised circular ridge thereon having a shortgap in it with its ends bevelled, the former disc rotatably mounted onsaid base with a peripheral edge having a series of equidistant undercutteeth therein adjacent one side of said ridge, the latter disc freelyrotatably mounted on said base concentric and coplanar with the formerdisc so as to be capable of continuous rotation having a peripheral edgeadjacent the other side of said ridge and a cut away opening in saidperipheral edge, and a pawl pivoted to said latter disc so as to liesubstantially tangentially to it within said opening and coplanar withthe discs with its pivoted end in front when moved in said direction ofrotation and having a bevelled end at the rear which pawl is springpressed away from said latter disc so as to project through said gapwhen directly opposite it and engage said teeth and has a shoulder nearto its pivot to abut against said ridge at the front end, with regard tosaid direction, of said gap and so quickly disengage said pawl each timethe former disc is rotated through said small angle, the back end, withregard to said direction, of said ridge being so bevelled as to permitsaid pawl to ride over it when said latter disc is rotated in thedirection opposite to the said direction without backward progression ofsaid former disc.

2. In a bridge scorer having a pair of rotatably mounted concentricdiscs, means for progressing one disc having a circular series ofequidistant numbers thereon through the angle between ad jacent numbersconsequent to rotation in a predetermined direction of an adjacent dischaving a circular series of equidistant numbers thereon past apredetermined position, comprising a base with a raised circular ridgethereon having a short gap in it with its ends bevelled, the former discrotatably mounted on said base with a peripheral edge having a series ofequidistant undercut teeth therein adjacent one side of said ridge, thelatter disc freely rotatably mounted on said base concentric andcoplanar with the former disc so as to be capable of continuous rotationhaving a peripheral edge adjacent the other side of said ridge and a cutaway opening in said peripheral edge, and a pawl pivoted to said latterdisc so as to lie substantially tangentially to it within said openingand coplanar with the discs with its pivoted end in front when moved insaid direction of rotation and having a bevelled end at the rear whichpawl is spring pressed away from said latter disc so as to projectthrough said gap when directly opposite it and engage said teeth and hasa shoulder near to its pivot to abut against said ridge at the frontend, with regard to said direction, of said gap and to quickly disengagesaid pawl each time the former disc is rotated through said anglebetween adjacent numbers, the back end, with regard to said direction,of said ridge being so bevelled as to permit said pawl to ride over itwhen said latter disc is rotated in the direction opposite to the saiddirection without backward progression of said former disc.

RALPH HERBERT PAUL.

